Christianisation

Christianisation is the process by which Christian beliefs, institutions, and practices become established within a society. It encompasses conversion of individuals, the creation of churches and clergy, the integration of Christian norms into social and legal life, and the dissemination of Christian education and culture. The term covers a wide range of historical experiences, from voluntary religious change to state-supported expansion, and may involve negotiation, accommodation, or coercive means.

Historically, Christianisation has occurred in diverse environments. In the late antique and medieval periods, it accompanied the expansion of the Roman Empire and the formation of Christian kingdoms in Europe, often facilitated by missionaries, bishops, monastic networks, and royal patronage. During the global age of exploration and colonization, Christianisation spread to the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Oceania through missions, schools, and church administrations, sometimes alongside political control. In some regions, evangelization was accompanied by the translation of scriptures into local languages and the inculturation of liturgy, while in others it met resistance or produced syncretic practices.

Methods and drivers include missionary work by orders and congregations, theological education, and the establishment of parishes, schools, and charitable institutions; state endorsement and legal frameworks that privilege Christian institutions can accelerate the process. Conversion can be voluntary or compelled in certain historical contexts; hybrid forms of belief and ritual development often emerged as Christianity intersected with local traditions.

Contemporary analyses emphasize the plurality of Christianisations, noting that much of the world now hosts Christian communities alongside other faiths. Debates focus on cultural impact, religious freedom, and the legacy of colonial-era missions. The term "Christianisation" is used across anthropology, history, and religious studies to describe the social transformation associated with Christianity rather than a single uniform pathway.